Frank r



(No Model.)

P. R. JOHN-SON. LONGITUDINAL RAILROAD RAIL HOLDER.

Patented Sept.- 30, 1890.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcxEa FRANK E. JOHNSON,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LONGITUDINAL RAILROAD-RAIL HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,302, dated September 30, 1890.

Application iled May 21, 1890. Serial No. 352,683. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city7 county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Longitudinal Rail- Holding Fish-Plate for Railroads, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore it has been the prac-tice to provide notches in the base of fish-plates and drive spikes within these notches into the ties to prevent the rails' from longitudinal displacement; but it is shown by extensive experience that this does not accomplish the desired result, for the reason that the spikes do not engage the ties to the fish-plate with sufcient security, the spikes being torn from the ties by the longitudinal strain of the rails.

The object of my invention relates to providing a fish-plate so peculiarly formed as to serve the double purpose of splicing the ends of the rails together and of preventing the rails from moving in a longitudinal direction, known as the creeping of rails, as also to provide greater stiffness and strength to the ish-plate; and the nature of my invention consists in forming the two opposite correspondin g parts of the fish-plate in such a way 5 that they (the {ish-plates) will engage two or three (as may be preferable) cross-ties of the road in such a manner that the rails cannot longitudinally move Without carrying the engaged ties with them.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, including the ends of two rails and a portion of two ties; Fig. 2,a longitudinal elevation, including the ends of two rails and cross-section of two ties, and showing one halt ot the device as applied to the rails and ties, the other half being the same as the half shown; Fig. 3, a crosssection, seen on the line 0c x of Fig. 2 as applied to the rails and ties; Fig. 4, a longitudinal elevation, same as Fig. 2, only that the device is extended in length to engage with three instead of two ties, which on heavy roads is sometimes preferable.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A A represent cross-sections of ties (metallic ties, as shown;) B B, the end. portions of two rails; w w, the web portions of the rails; C C, Fig. 3, a pair of the fislbplates; c c', the

horizontal or base portion of the iish-plate; c e, the downwardly-projecting portion or lip of thetsh-plate, being cutaway or bifurcated opposite to the ties A A to engage the ties by striding them and to allow them (the ties) to come in contact with the rail.

e and e are bolts and nuts that clamp the two opposite halves of the fish-plates to the rails between the head and base thereof; d d 6o and ct Cc, bolts and nuts which bind the clips D I) to the rails and ties. It will be seen that the slanting or horizontal portion of the fishplate is suciently cut away to aiord room for the nose of the clips D D.

The lip or. downwardly-projecting portion of the fish-plates c c is cut away or bifurcated equal to the width of the ties, so as to stride and engage them, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. This lip of the fish-plate 7o extends vertically down about half the depth of the ties, in order to securely engage therewith.

Having sufliciently described my invention to give a clear understanding of its several parts andtheir respective functions, I will now briefly explain its operation.

It will be'seen that when the two opposite halves of the fish-plates are firmly bolted to the rails and their downwardly-projecting lips 8o engage the two (or it may be three) ties it will be impossible for the rails to take any longitudinal movement without breaking the clamping-bolts e e', or carrying the ties with them, which are straddled and engaged by the fish-plates. It will be seen that both {ishplates-*that is, the two standing opposite each other-stride and engage the same ties, by which the ties are doubly secured to the fish-plates. 9o

I am aware of the English patent, No. 3,704, of 1867, in which is provided a rail in two parts, or a double rail-a base-rail and headrail--the character of their union being of the tongue-and-groove order, one of which rails brealgs joints with the other, in connection with which no fish-plate whatever is used; but in this English patent I am aware there is employed a peculiar device which is bolted to the rail and protrudes into the tie, but not roo at all in the form or mannerrof a ishplate, or at all in the form or manner of my device engage the ties, in combination with the T- rails B B and ties A A, whereby the device accomplishes the double purpose of securing 15 the ends of the rails in line with each other and preventing their longitudinal movement, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

FRANK R. JOHNSON.

lVitne'sses:

FRANK G. JOHNSON, NEWELL CHASE. 

